The deadly outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship may have been caused by a Dutch couple contracting the illness during a bird-watching outing in Ushuaia, Argentina, health officials fear.
Two Argentine officials investigating the origins of the outbreak on the ship, which sailed from southern Argentina, said this is now the government’s leading hypothesis.
The couple visited a landfill site during the birdwatching tour, authorities said, where they may have been exposed to rodents carrying the infection. Authorities previously said that Ushuaia and the surrounding province of Tierra del Fuego had never recorded a case of the hantavirus.
Eight suspected cases of hantavirus have now been linked to the boat, the World Health Organisation said, with five of the cases confirmed.
The cruise ship operator said the planned destination for the ship was still the Canary Islands, despite its leader, Fernando Clavijo, blocking the vessel from docking in Tenerife.
Two people who have returned to the UK from the hantavirus-stricken ship have been asked to self-isolate.
In an update issued on Wednesday evening, the UKHSA said “the risk to the general public remains very low”, adding that neither of the two individuals who have been asked to self-isolate had reported symptoms.
The organisation said: “They are receiving advice and support from UKHSA and have been advised to self-isolate.
“UKHSA are supporting a small number of individuals identified as close contacts of those on the boat. They are being offered support and are also self-isolating. None are reporting any symptoms. The risk to the general public remains very low.”
One British patient who was evacuated from MV Hondius on Wednesday said that he doesn’t know how long he will remain in hospital.
Martin Anstee, an expedition guide on the cruise ship who contracted a suspected hantavirus infection, was one of three people medically evacuated from the ship. The other two were from the Netherlands and Germany.
The 56-year-old told Sky News: “I’m doing OK. I’m not feeling too bad. There are still lots of tests to be done. I have no idea how long I’ll be in the hospital for. I’m in isolation at the moment.”
He said his doctors will have a clearer picture the day after tomorrow. Asked about his symptoms, he added: “I can’t say any more at the moment.”
Spanish health minister Monica Garcia said yesterday that everyone remaining on the cruise ship MV Hondius was asymptomatic.
The ship has now departed for the Canary Islands with almost 150 people on board. Passengers will disembark there.
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